Garion stared at the Demon Gate.

The surface of the gate twisted slowly, pulsing like a living thing.

Thick demonic mana rolled out in waves, heavy enough that even breathing near it felt uncomfortable.

Then, right in front of his eyes, a familiar screen appeared.

[Mission: Destroy the Demon Gate]

[Reward: Demon Gate Island will fully become God Gym territory.]

Garion's lips curved upward.

"Oh," he muttered. "So that's how it is."

He chuckled under his breath, shoulders loosening instead of tensing.

"To think a mission would appear now of all times," he said quietly. "And the reward is the whole island."

He looked at the gate again, eyes sharp.

"If I pull this off, Demon Gate Island won't just be an island we hitchhiked to anymore."

"It'll be completely mine."

Garion turned around and faced his disciples.

"Alright," he said calmly. "Who wants to come with me and enter the Demon Gate?"

The words hit everyone like a hammer.

Dahlia's grin froze.

The twins stopped moving.

Clara blinked hard.

Eliza tilted her head slightly.

Arden and Dion both stiffened at the same time.

Eldrin stepped forward at once.

"That shouldn't be possible," he said, voice calm but firm. "No one can enter the gate. That is why we sealed it."

Garion glanced back at the gate, watching the pulse grow stronger.

"Normally, yeah," he replied. "But look at it now."

The gate throbbed again, and for a brief moment, the surface rippled inward.

"It changed," Garion said. "The seal weakened too much. The structure shifted."

He smirked. "Which means it's enterable now."

The guardian beasts exchanged looks.

Silvar narrowed his eyes.

Bastor and Varyn remained silent, but their presence grew heavier.

Cindor clicked her tongue softly.

Garion clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention back.

"There are seven of you here," he said. "Dahlia. The twins. Clara. Eliza. Arden. Dion."

He pointed at them one by one.

"I'm not bringing everyone," he continued. "This isn't a group tour."

"Choose four people among yourselves," Garion said. "The ones who will follow me inside."

Dahlia swallowed. "Inside… the Demon Gate?"

Garion nodded. "Yeah."

Before anyone could argue, Garion turned around and walked straight toward the gate.

"Master!" Dion called out.

Garion did not stop.

He stepped into the pulsing surface without hesitation.

For a split second, his body was swallowed by black light.

Then he was gone.

Silence fell.

Everyone stared at the gate in shock.

"He… went in," Clara whispered.

Eldrin stared hard at the spot where Garion vanished. "So it really is open."

Silvar clicked his tongue. "Troublesome human."

"Should we follow?" Varyn asked.

Eldrin shook his head slowly. "No."

He looked at the gate again, then at the spreading demonic mana around them.

"That man is far stronger than us," Eldrin said quietly. "It should be no problem if he entered alone."

Silvar nodded once. "We have another task."

"That man is far stronger than us," Eldrin said quietly. "If he entered alone, there is a reason."

Silvar nodded once. "We have another task."

"Here they come," Dahlia said, fists tightening.

Eldrin lifted his head. "We hold the outside."

Silvar's claws scraped the ground. "Kill anything that comes out."

Cindor's eyes burned. "No mercy."

Bastor and Varyn moved forward together, their presence anchoring the land itself.

Eldrin glanced one last time at the Demon Gate.

"Do what you must inside," he murmured. "We will keep the path clear."

Outside the gate, the battle against demonic beasts was about to begin.

Meanwhile, the disciples were gathered in a tight circle, voices low but sharp, all of them trying to decide who would follow Garion inside.

Dahlia crossed her arms and looked around. "Alright. Let's be clear first."

She pointed at herself, then at Arden. "Direct disciples. Two slots are basically locked."

Arden nodded quickly. "Yeah. No argument there."

The twins opened their mouths at the same time.

"Then us..."

"No," Dahlia and Arden said together.

Rynor frowned. "Hey!"

Rynar clicked his tongue. "That was fast."

Dahlia shook her head. "You two are strong, but your power drops if you split up."

Rynor smirked. "So you admit we're better together."

Arden sighed. "Which means both of you can't go. Master only said four."

Rynar folded his arms. "Unfair."

"Life is unfair," Dahlia replied cheerfully. "Get used to it."

The twins grumbled but stepped back, clearly unhappy.

That left three people.

Clara tilted her head, smiling as usual. "So it's between me, Eliza, and Dion?"

Dion raised an eyebrow. "When you say it like that, it sounds dangerous."

Arden looked at the three of them, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Right… so…"

He pointed at Dion. "You're coming."

Dion blinked. "Huh?"

Arden nodded firmly. "Yeah. You."

Dahlia raised her eyebrow. "What's your reason?"

Arden cleared his throat. "I don't want to be the only male disciple in there."

Dion stared at him. "…That's it?"

"Yes," Arden said honestly.

Clara covered her mouth, laughing. "Wow. Such deep reasoning."

Dahlia laughed and then wiped a tear from her eye. "Truly inspiring."

Dion sighed. "You know I could die in there."

Arden smiled awkwardly. "At least you won't die alone."

"Great," Dion muttered. "That makes it so much better."

Clara leaned forward slightly. "So I'm out?"

Dahlia nodded. "You're strong, but your illusions shine more in chaos outside."

Clara shrugged. "Fair."

Eliza had been silent the whole time, eyes lowered.

Dahlia turned to her gently. "Eliza."

Eliza looked up.

"You're coming," Dahlia said. "No debate."

Eliza hesitated, then nodded once.

Dion glanced at her. "You don't even argue?"

Eliza shook her head lightly.

Arden smiled. "She's reliable."

Clara sighed dramatically. "Wow. Betrayed by silence."

The twins crossed their arms, clearly annoyed.

Rynor clicked his tongue. "So the final group is what?"

Dahlia counted on her fingers. "Me. Arden. Eliza. Dion."

Rynar smirked. "Try not to die."

Dion smirked back. "Try not to get jealous."

Dahlia stepped forward and stretched her shoulders. "Alright. Decision made."

She looked toward the Demon Gate, where Garion had disappeared.

"Let's not keep Master waiting."

Arden took a deep breath. "Yeah."

Eliza adjusted her stance, already focused.

Dion cracked his knuckles lightly. "Well. If we're going to get dragged into hell, we might as well do it properly."

The four of them stepped toward the gate together.

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